15 Kids' Birthday Gifts Under $15

Are you feeling the birthday party squeeze? It's all fun and games for the kids but so often these parties take a toll on us parents - both on our wallets and on our time. Sometimes it seems to be a neverending cycle of weekend after weekend of birthday parties. 

 

 

The trick is to keep gifts simple - and inexpensive. Less is more when it comes to the simplicity of a birthday present.

 

 

Here are 15 ideas all under $15. We've included a wide variety of goodies for toddlers to early tweens and many of these goodies have been vetted by my own children as gifts to give or receive.

 

1. Squinkies - They're tiny, they're cute, and their collectible. For girls or boys these goodies usually come in sets of about a dozen to 16 and are priced at about $9.99. Marvel Super Heroes, Cars and Hello Kitty character themes are now availabe as well.

 

 

2. Play Doh - You can never go wrong with Play Doh! Buy a multi-package of colors or a small kit with molds and play doh. We like the Play Food kits best of all as kids love creating pretend food. This sandwich activity set is only $7.

3. Dot Paint - $12 for a set of 6. Easy, interesting for kids, and very little mess for Mom to clean up!

4. Littlest Pet Shop Figures  - For only $13 get this collectible set of 8 new friends. 

 

 

5. Super Hero Little People  - Set of 2 for $10. 

 

6. Star Wars Figures - Miscellaneous. On sale for the $7 range! 

7. Leap Pad App Cards - On Sale on Amazon for $15, with a $20 value, these are good for downloading 2 games, e-books, or videos for the Leap Pad or Leapster Explorer. 

 

8. Barbie Dolls  - Can any girl have enough Barbies?  Priced as low at $6! More elaborate or popular dolls can run from $10-$15 or higher. These Fashionista dolls are glam and fancy, but only $11. 

 

9. $15 gift card to Justice - The very latest in girls clothing and preteen fashion.

 

 

10. $10 gift card to iTunes  - What kid doesn't want to download songs? 

11. $15 Gift Card to Fandango -- Give the gift of a movie night.

 

 

 

12. Candyland - This sweet board game is the perfect first board game to give or receive. On sale for as low as $7 and regularly priced in the $10-12 range. 

13. Bath and Body Works - Lotions galore! Girls and Moms love this stuff.  Gift sets start at $7.50.

 

14. Bathtime fun products. Bubble Bath, sponges and more! This Disney Princess Bubble Bath Berry Bliss is only $5 and would be a thrill for most little girls. They also sell Cars themed bubble bath and sponges for the boys. 

 

 

15. A beautiful hardcover children's book or favorite classic paperback. These books will be read again and again wheras the toys always have a short shelf life. Here's a favorite title we adore, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff. $11.